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Tessa Joughin | profile | all galleries >> Fact and Fiction >> Steam at Dawn tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Steam at Dawn

Tucked just behind the mountain Kingdom of Lesotho is an unexpected part of the Free State to those who are accustomed to the flat, endless plains that lie between Durban and Johannesburg. The Eastern Free State, with it's sandstone cliffs, is beautiful in any season and those who visit it return again and again. Regular visitors to Sandstone Estates, just outside Ficksburg, are photographers from all over the world, who attend the "Steam" weekends to indulge in an orgy of photographic sessions in the most perfect setting, over two or three days. Just before dawn they all arrive, have a quick cup of coffee and then pile onto the train where they are taken out to disembark into the fields while the train slips away to gather steam and then comes puffing back in a flurry of belching vapour just as the sun rises. A photographer's dream!
Dawn at the little Sandstone Estates station
Dawn at the little Sandstone Estates station		 The Lesotho Mountains and the steam emerge as the dawn light strengthens
The Lesotho Mountains and the steam emerge as the dawn light strengthens		 The rosy light catches the steam and smoke
The rosy light catches the steam and smoke		 The Train roars closer...
The Train roars closer...		 It thunders by!
It thunders by!		 Waiting for the second run.
Waiting for the second run.
Ready for the sun and the train.
Ready for the sun and the train.		 The sun,silhouettes and steam!
The sun,silhouettes and steam!		 Through the smoke.
Through the smoke.		 Late Summer Morning mists
Late Summer Morning mists		 The windmill
The windmill		 The photographers scurry to find a good position across the dam.
The photographers scurry to find a good position across the dam.
Sun-shafts through the mist and smoke.
Sun-shafts through the mist and smoke.		 The dam gleams like polished brass.
The dam gleams like polished brass.		 The camera's shapes look like strange animals.
The camera's shapes look like strange animals.		 ..What everyone has been waiting for...!
..What everyone has been waiting for...!		 The colours look like an old sepia print.
The colours look like an old sepia print.		 The train slips back to gather steam.
The train slips back to gather steam.
Capturing the scene.
Capturing the scene.		 Hurry up and wait....
Hurry up and wait....		 Winter Morning Steam
Winter Morning Steam		 The restored Barclay gathering steam.
The restored Barclay gathering steam.		 Antique machinery awaits the winter dawn.
Antique machinery awaits the winter dawn.		 The sun emerges from the Maluti Mountains.
The sun emerges from the Maluti Mountains.
The antique tractors have seen many sunrises.
The antique tractors have seen many sunrises.		 A flock of birds herolds the dawn.
A flock of birds herolds the dawn.		 An antique plough silhouetted.
An antique plough silhouetted.		 Lovely shapes, forgotten purposes.
Lovely shapes, forgotten purposes.		 A moon-mobile ? - a tractor!
A moon-mobile ? - a tractor!		 The Barclay comes rushing back.
The Barclay comes rushing back.
Gathering steam again.
Gathering steam again.		 It looks like a children's toy train.
It looks like a children's toy train.		 The sun rises higher.
The sun rises higher.		 Steam Silhouette
Steam Silhouette		 Steam!!
Steam!!		 Trapped smoke.
Trapped smoke.
Going to get water.
Going to get water.		 The Water Tank.
The Water Tank.		 Smoke patterns.
Smoke patterns.		 The Puffing Billy.
The Puffing Billy.		 The Spectators - a ground squirrel and photographers.
The Spectators - a ground squirrel and photographers.		 This little chap loved the trains as much as we did!
This little chap loved the trains as much as we did!

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Mariza 22-Sep-2008 06:23
Die Foto's is ongelooflik en moet sê jy nogal jou staan plek op sandstone geken... Die foto's laat my terug verlang na die plek.
Eldar Kadymov05-Sep-2006 15:29
This is very cool gallery, I love those "smokey" shots ! V
Guest 13-Jun-2006 02:58
Great gallery! :>)
Ray :)09-Jun-2006 13:49
Wow!
Leif Gaml 28-Mar-2006 20:59
That was some of the most beautifull pictures I have ever seen
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